By Daniel Bampoe
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has officially resumed her state duties, marking her first public engagement after returning from over a month-long medical leave in the United Kingdom—a period that stirred national concern and spurred widespread public interest in her wellbeing.
Her comeback was underscored by her participation in a high-level general meeting of political appointees at the Presidency on Monday.
Welcomed by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama’s team, the Vice President expressed gratitude to her colleagues for their support and applauded their continued efforts in advancing the President’s agenda of national renewal.
“I thanked them for their well wishes and also expressed my appreciation to them for the remarkable work they have continued to do in advancing the President’s vision of resetting and rebuilding our nation,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said in a statement.
The Vice President’s return to Ghana on Thursday, May 22, brought a visible sense of relief to many Ghanaians.
She touched down at the Kotoka International Airport aboard a private jet, ending over a month of speculation about her condition following a health scare.
President Mahama, accompanied by First Lady Lordina Mahama, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, the Vice President’s Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia, and other senior government figures, was at the airport to welcome her.
Family members and the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church were also present, reflecting the blend of political and personal gravity attached to the occasion.
Addressing the media briefly, the Vice President thanked the Ghanaian public for their prayers and encouragement, singling out the medical professionals at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) and those in London who cared for her.
She also expressed deep appreciation to President Mahama and his brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for their “unwavering thoughtfulness and care.”
A Medical Absence That Sparked Public Interest
The Vice President’s health became a central topic of national discourse on March 28, 2025, when she was quietly admitted to the UGMC for medical evaluation.
Though officials initially described her condition as stable, the seriousness of her illness led to her transfer to the UK on April 7 for further treatment and recuperation.
With limited official updates at the time, public anxiety grew. Many citizens took to social media to express concern, while others organized prayer vigils and wrote op-eds urging transparency.
Despite the silence, support for her transcended political lines, highlighting her status as not just a political figure, but a national symbol of inclusive leadership.
Throughout her absence, President Mahama made efforts to reassure the public.
